Hundreds of runners and families flocked to South Shields at the weekend (17 August) for the debut of Tidal Trails, a brand new summer running festival on the beach and the famous Leas. The colourful event brought together around 500 participants of all ages for a day of running, music, food and entertainment.

Tidal Trails set out to deliver a festival-style day for active families. The programme included 2K and 8K trail races, the high-energy ‘Super Sand Sprints’ and Paula Radcliffe’s popular Families on Track initiative, which encourages parents and children to run together in a fun and inclusive format.

Alongside the races, visitors enjoyed a packed schedule of activities. Durham Cricket Foundation, Beamish Golf and Everyone Active kept the energy levels high in the Active Zone, while beach games ran throughout the afternoon. Live music and entertainment on the Tidal Trails Stage created a buzzing atmosphere, with food and drink stalls adding to the festival feel.

Founder Steve Cram was delighted with the event’s debut: “We’re really encouraged by the first ever Tidal Trails, which proved that the concept works really well. The weather was superb and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves immensely.

A particular highlight was the number of young children who came along, with many of them tackling their first organised run with huge smiles and boundless enthusiasm. Seeing the next generation embracing running and getting active added an extra buzz to the festival atmosphere. We’ve had great feedback and hope to return to South Shields with this vibrant event next year.”

If you'd like to know more, visit the Tidal Trails website.

Image: Events of the North